A conviction for a drunk driving offense risks a variety of challenging consequences. People may have to serve a jail sentence. The temporary loss of driving privileges is a standard penalty after a drunk driving conviction. People also have to deal with the consequences of having a permanent criminal record.
Many people plead guilty to drunk driving charges, possibly because they view it as an affordable solution. They don’t want to absorb the cost of defending against the charges. However, the financial consequences of a conviction often outweigh the cost of mounting a defense.
What common expenses do people have to absorb after a drunk driving conviction?
1. Fines and court costs
Financial penalties are relatively standard in drunk driving cases. The courts can impose large fines that vary drastically depending on the criminal record of the motorist and whether there are any aggravating factors to consider, such as injuries to others or a particularly high blood alcohol concentration. Court costs can also add thousands of dollars to the final cost of a drunk driving conviction.
2. Insurance rate increases
Driving requires liability insurance. What people pay depends in part on how much risk they represent. Their age and sex influence their insurance rates. Insurance companies also look closely at a driver’s record. Traffic tickets and convictions for driving offenses tend to significantly increase insurance costs. People can expect to pay hundreds of dollars more for the same coverage after a drunk driving conviction. They may also be at risk of losing their policy and getting forced into a higher-risk pool where coverage costs more.
3. Career setbacks
Some people need to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for their jobs. They may be ineligible for a CDL for a year after a first drunk driving conviction or permanently after repeat offenses. Others might require a state license for a specialized profession. A criminal conviction could put that license at risk. The record of a drunk driving conviction could also affect job opportunities and access to higher education when it shows up during a criminal background check.
Fighting back against drunk driving allegations can often be more cost-effective than pleading guilty. Reviewing the charges and the state’s evidence with a skilled legal team could be the first step toward limiting the aftermath of a recent drunk driving arrest.